Payslip basics

Payslip basics

Most employees receive payslips and take them for granted, but what are the legal requirements?

All employees, including those working part-time and temporarily, are entitled to receive a written payslip on or before their pay day. The Employment Rights Act (ERA) sets out the required contents of a payslip:

It is also usual to show the period covered by the payment, and the date of payment.

When distributing payslips or other confidential information, it is important to be aware of data protection rules. The new requirements, known as GDPR, mean that it is unlikely to be acceptable for you to email unencrypted payslips to employees. We can advise you further if you would like more help understanding the requirements.

You can significantly reduce queries from employees by giving basic details such as: